Millet goes global as McDonald's India adds multi-millet bun to its menu

The quick services restaurant developed the bun with five types of millets- jowar, bajra, ragi, proso, and kodo

Millets are set to receive a global touch with fast food giant McDonald’s introducing 'Millet Bun Burger' in India as it seeks to join the millet bandwagon and tap into the healthy food segment.

The US-based company’s local unit developed the bun in collaboration with Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore, which comes under the Council and Industrial Research.

The quick services restaurant developed the bun with five types of millets- jowar, bajra, ragi, proso, and kodo. Millets encompass a diverse group of cereals including pearl, proso, foxtail, barnyard, little, kodo, browntop, finger and Guinea millets, as well as fonio, sorghum (or great millet) and teff, according to the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The UN General Assembly at its 75th session in March 2021 declared 2023 the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023).

According to the FAO, millets can grow on arid lands with minimal inputs and are resilient to changes in climate. They are therefore an ideal solution for countries to increase self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on imported cereal grains.

The multi-millet bun was produced with a food technology developed by CFTRI, through which nutritional values are increased.

Union minister Jitendra Singh hailed the development, lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "swadeshi."

Sharing an X post, the Singh said that the 'Millet Bun Burger' has been developed by the Mysore-based state-run food research institute.

“Videshi turns to Swadeshi”, the minister said, welcoming the use of indigenous technology in its development.

"A proud moment showcasing how Indian innovation and traditional nutrition are reshaping global food trends. And, a grand vindication for India's Millet movement, which had gained momentum with the UN declaring 2023 as the 'International Year of Millets' at the behest of India, with the personal intervention of PM Modi," Singh added.

With agency inputs